Question

"Tribal peasants interpreted the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of 'Swaraj' in yet another way." Explain the statement in the context of…

Accepted Answer

(i) The Non-Cooperation Movement was initially started in cities, spread to the villages and tribal areas rapidly. All of them responded to the call of swaraj, but the term meant different to different people. (ii) Tribal peasants interpreted the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of swaraj in yet another way. (iii) In the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh, for instance, a militant guerrilla movement spread in the early 1920s – not a form of struggle that the Congress could approve. (iv) In other forest regions, the colonial government had closed large forest areas, preventing people from entering the forests to graze their cattle, or to collect fuelwood and fruits. This enraged the hill people. (v) Not only were their livelihoods affected but they felt that their traditional rights were being denied. (vi) When the government began forcing them to contribute begar for road building, the hill people revolted. (vii) Their leader, Alluri Sitaram Raju, claimed that he had a variety of special powers: (viii) He was inspired by the Non-Cooperation Movement, and persuaded people to wear khadi and give up drinking. (ix) He asserted that India could be liberated only by the use of force, not non-violence. (x) The Gudem rebels attacked police stations, attempted to kill British officials and carried on guerrilla warfare for achieving swaraj. Raju was captured and executed in 1924, and over time became a folk hero

"Tribal peasants interpreted the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of 'Swaraj' in yet another way." Explain the statement in the context of Non-Cooperation Movement.

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